Experience 21 Prayer & Fasting Journal

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This Journal Belongs To:

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Contents

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How to Use This Journal

What is Fasting?

What is the Community Purpose of Our 21 Day Fast?

Kinds of Fasts?

Planning Your Fast

Health Considerations

Circle Maker Devotionals

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How To Use This Journal

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We sense God calling us as a community to experience 21 days of prayer & fasting for Houma, LA and the surrounding areas. We need a guide to hold our hands together as we travel on this journey of 21 days. This 21 day journal will help us unite as one and draw closer to God’s purpose for our community of faith and for our city.

Imagine what would happen if each voice in our community of faith prayed the same daily prayer together. What would happen if we came before the throne of God as one voice?

You are encouraged to read the daily focus scripture and devotion. Each day, write a reflection of thoughts that God is sharing with you. Then, pray the community prayer before you go into your regular time of prayer.

Each day, preferably in the morning, discipline yourself in the following:

Read the daily devotional.

Write a reflection.

Launch your prayer time.

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What Is Fasting?

Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. The early church practiced the spiritual discipline of fasting; this was learned from the fathers of the Jewish faith. A yearning for God was and is central to the purpose of fasting. The fast humbled and unified the people of God and was used as a supplement to prayer. The first century prophetess Anna, shows us the way. She “worshipped night and day, fasting and praying”. (Luke 2:37).

Scriptures abound with examples of leaders and community members whose prayer and fasting lead to extraordinary visitations. Moses fasted 40 days; God revealed the Old Testament to him. Hannah fasted and prayed out of desperation; Samuel was born. and a message.

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Samuel fasted and prayed at Mizpeh; Israel overthrew the oppression of Philistia. David fasted and mourned for his sin; God forgave him. Elijah fasted for 40 days; God spoke to him in a still, small voice. Esther fasted out of desperation; God delivered Israel from a Holocaust. Nineveh fasted out of desperation; he was spared from divine judgment. Daniel fasted and prayed for understanding; God sent an angel with a vision. Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days; He overcame the tempter and returned in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas fasted while worshiping God and conditioning their heart for holy direction; God spoke to them and led them to begin the First Missionary Tour. In this cursory look, we can see how fasting was a form of worship. Fasting helped position God’s people for direction and made them sensitive to the voice of God.

Jesus taught the disciples in Matthew 5-7, “When you fast . . .” indicating that his disciples would indeed fast. Notice Jesus did not say, “If you fast” or “You must fast”. He assumed His followers would engage in this spiritual discipline and taught them the appropriate method to do so.

Recommended BooksJentezen Franklin, FastingJentezen Franklin, The Fasting EdgeBill Bright, 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer Richard Foster, Celebration of DisciplineJohn Piper, A Hunger For God . . . prayer and fasting Elmer Towns, Fasting For A Spiritual BreakthroughElmer Towns, The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen FastDallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines.

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What Is The Purpose Of Our

21 Day Fast?

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For all 21 days, we will pray for God to reveal himself to our generation. We will notice divine revelation as we pray daily. As a community, we purpose to unify around this vision. We will pray words like unveil, reveal, disclose, show forth, demonstrate, and display as we lift our prayers to Him. Whether through miracles, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, deliverance, Scripture, or community, our constant prayer will be for God “to open the eyes of our generation to see Him.”

Community voice plays a crucial role in magnifying the effects of prayer. When children, students, parents, and workers alike lend their faith to the same cry, the promise comes into view, and heaven readies itself for response. When 120 believers united with one voice, mind, and heart in the upper room, the Holy Spirit rushed in (see Acts 2).

As we cry out for a supernatural unveiling of Jesus Christ, expect it. The wonderful and the glorious always unfold when we fast and pray.

Our purpose has never been to accumulate more property or see a certain number of people come in. We simply seek God and let Him determine the outcome. We expect change to happen in these areas:

Vision: for innovation in our ministries to Houma, LA and the surrounding areas.Direction: for our campus on 2324 Coteau RdBoldness: for contagious passion in reaching our city with the faith, hope, and love of jesus christ.Growth: for God to add daily to the church.Community: for us to become a safe place for people to grow in their faith.Health: for the fruit of the spirit to develop within us.Power: for the gifts of the spirit to be at work in us.Culture: for discipleship, worship, and community to deepen. For us to help people live the life God intended.

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Kinds Of Fasts

Isaiah 58 Fast

“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ “ - Isaiah 58:6-9 (MSG)

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This fast concerns itself with social justice. Upon reading Isaiah 58, one gets the sense that the prophet is calling God’s people to forsake personal piety. Isaiah’s prophecy is a reaction to the self-righteous leaders who took pride in their long fasts and noticed sacrifices, while the poor starved and were oppressed. Isaiah denounces the arrogance. In essence he says, “Who cares if you can go without food for a day or two and pray for an hour or two when the homeless are going without food and the oppressed are burdened?”

Isaiah challenges Israel to fast their food to the poor. Jesus may have been referencing this when he said, “blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” (Matthew).

Suggested Application:

• Determine a time-frame - 3 days, 1 meal, 14 days, etc. • Give your coffee or breakfast money to a local non-profit, MacDonell

House, The Haven, The Bunk House etc.• Give your lunch break to writing to a congress representative or senator

about a social justice issue you feel strongly about. • Devote your lunchtime to writing a card of encouragement to someone you

know who is hurting. • Spend lunchtime at the nearest Fire Department, Police Department, or

school, and seek out a public servant to thank him for his community work.

• Use your dinner money to buy a homeless man a coat. • Go out on the streets and share the time and money that you would spend

on entertainment over a weekend with someone who is down and out. • Go visit girls or boys in the juvenile detention center, or go to a prison to

visit the inmates. • Take up a social justice cause—clean water acts, humanitarian aid acts,

standing against the sexual exploitation of women and children. • Forgive a debt that someone owes you. • Invite someone over to your house and share a meal with him or her. • Give some of your clothes away. • Share a conversation with someone who is lonely.• Buy a pie for someone who has just experienced a loss in his or her family.

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Daniel Fast

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel . . . . In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. - Daniel 10: 1-3 (NKJV).

Daniel fasted with the intent of gaining understanding and direction from God. We cannot be certain of Daniel’s rationale for fasting from pleasant foods only. Perhaps his civic duties required unusual focus and strength, after all, Daniel was the equivalent to the Secretary of State of the United States. What we can observe in this fast, however, is that Daniel eats just enough to acquire strength. He fasts in a manner that gives him energy but requires sacrifice. He goes for three weeks without meat, wine, or lotion. It is said that he lived on a diet of lentils during this time.

It should be noted that Daniel’s life was a life of prayer and fasting. His vigilance and determination in prayer is present from his first days in Babylon until the end of his life when he is placed in a lion’s lair as punishment for praying.

Perhaps this is why Daniel has more visions, supernatural experiences, and revelations into the mystery of God than any other seer. Some have argued his lifestyle of prayer and fasting made him sensitive to the spirit realm.

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Suggested Application:

• For 21 days eat nothing that is pleasant or tasty.• A Lentil soup without salt and seasonings • No meats • No juice or beverages (only water)• No deserts or pleasant breads. • See www.danielfast.wordpress.com for menus• Pray three times a day. • Seek God for wisdom, revelation, understanding, and truth. • Seek God for words with which to encourage His people.• Seek God for insights into the times in which we live. • Read Scriptures, and pray the Psalms, particularly Psalms 120-134. • Study the life of Daniel. • Pray the prayers of Daniel.

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Classical Fast

The classical fast is abstinence from all food; it is drinking only water. Any number of days can be selected for this type of fast. If one is doing it for one day, it is typical to go from sunup to sundown. If doing it more than one day, ask the Lord to lead you. Ask Him to show you how long He would like for you to do such a fast. Spend time seeking God for direction. It is common for people to fast one meal, one day, three days, or one week. The important thing is to be sensitive to both God and your body.

Moses, Elijah and Jesus engaged in this kind of a fast. The Day of Atonement was a fast of this nature. It was when all of Israel, except pregnant and i l l persons, ate noth ing f rom sunup to sundown. Jesus qualified this kind of fast with the following advice, “When you fast don’t do it for pride sake or to be seen of men, but do it secretly and your heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6).

Suggested Application

• Set aside a day, or several days, when you don’t have to work, and use the entire day to engage in spiritual activities— praying the Psalms, reading the Scriptures, serving the needy, helping the church, listening to worship music, or worshipping through various forms of art.

• Prepare your body well by starting and ending the fast properly (see article on the health aspects of fasting). This fast can function as a spiritual heart- cleanser. Pray Psalm 51 or 32 and seek the Lord to cleanse and wash you from pride, lust, revenge, bitterness, anger, covetousness, etc.

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Alternative Fast

For those who cannot fast from food, due to health or other issues, this alternative form of fasting is especially beneficial in our high-tech, market-saturated, noise-polluted, fast-paced world. What sacrifices were to the great Bible Characters, fasting is to us. The important element of fasting to the men and women in the Bible was that the sacrifice cost them something. David said, “I will not offer a sacrifice to God that does not cost me something.” It was said of Abel that he offered an excellent or costly sacrifice to the Lord. There are many non- food dependencies that have taken the place of our relationship with God. Listed below are a few creative sacrifices with our contemporary world in mind.

Fast from media. Unplug the TV, turn off radio, and disconnect the internet. Push away from the newspaper, magazines, and books that are empty of soul and spirit. It’s amazing how clear the voice of God becomes when all the noises of the marketplace are silenced, and we make room for God to speak. Try this for every Sunday throughout the 21days, a whole week, or all three weeks. As you do this, spend much time reading the Bible and spiritual books. Listen to music that is worshipful and inspiring. Replace talk radio, gossip TV, and negative, smutty news with carriers of God’s healing voice—sermons, the Bible, books, and devotionals. AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, stop and listen to the voice of God. What is he saying to you? Take some time to journal what it is that you receive or hear from the Lord during this time.

Fast from consumerism. It’s amazing how much time and money can be spent on things that are never used. They are purchased to simply occupy time. One gets board, so he spends. Time and money are wasted. This is distracting us from what our heavenly Father is calling us to. Go on a spending fast for 21 days, and fast from buying the things you want. Purchase only what you absolutely need. Spend your time in devotion and your money on helping someone else. Visit a local hospital and pray for those that are in need. Instead of consuming, find ways to give.

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Fast from gossiping. One must rid himself of pointless cell-phone conversations, doubt- talk, and fearful thoughts. Some people can waste hours in meaningless conversations about others. Fast from saying anything negative or demeaning. Abstain from self-pity and fear. Commit to speak only things that are of faith, hope and love. Continuously confess all three aloud with your mouth.

Fast from artificial entertainment. Shut out the movies, novels, concerts, and favorite TV-shows; let yourself be awed by God again.

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Planning Your Fast

Which date(s) will you fast?Which type of fast will you engage in?What is the purpose of this fast for you?

Using the 21 day Calendar below, mark out your days (circling the date) and write what type of fast you will do.

January 2013Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

6 7

Circle Maker Prayer Expereince8 9 10 11 12

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Circle Maker Prayer Expereince14 15 16 17 18 19

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Circle Maker Prayer Expereince21 22 23 24 25 26

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Circle Ma…xpereince28 29 30 31 1 2

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

6 7

Circle Maker Prayer Expereince8 9 10 11 12

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Circle Maker Prayer Expereince14 15 16 17 18 19

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Circle Maker Prayer Expereince21 22 23 24 25 26

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Circle Ma…xpereince28 29 30 31 1 2

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

6 7

Circle Maker Prayer Expereince8 9 10 11 12

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Circle Maker Prayer Expereince14 15 16 17 18 19

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Circle Maker Prayer Expereince21 22 23 24 25 26

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Circle Ma…xpereince28 29 30 31 1 2

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During the 21 day fast, many of the ministries of The Life Church will have corporate times of prayer. All prayer gatherings will start at 7 pm and will take place at The Life Church. This schedule applies during the 21 day fast. Here is the schedule:

Mondays - Music, Nexus, Journey, Children's leadersTuesdays - Corporate prayerWednesdays - Media, Men's Group, Missions, Financial Department, Life Group leadersThursdays - SpanishFridays - Corporate PrayerSaturdays - Hospitality, Women's group

Corporate Prayer Gatherings

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If you’ll be going on an extended fast, you should check with your family physician. What follows is not meant to be a medical guide. Included here are some practices, disciplines, and protocols for your consideration. If you are on medications or are diabetic, check with your doctor before fasting. Fasting can be healthy to both your body and your spirit. The following pre-fast schedule can help to eliminate dizzy-spells, blackouts, and fatigue.

Fasting burns fat cells, which in turn releases toxins into the body. Unabsorbed toxins may cause one to be light-headed, dizzy, and possible even faint. The following preparation assists in removing the toxins from the body. Once you get beyond the first four days or so, it becomes much easier to continue fasting than it had been for those first few days. You will begin to think more clearly and you will start to feel refreshed.

Health Considerations

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1 week before FastCut caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and any addictive substance; limit sugar and greasy food intake. Many people have been healed from various addictions and substance abuse during a fast. Remember also, it is vitally important to drink daily 10-12 glasses of water throughout the week before the fast.

3 days before FastBreakfast: Bowl of oatmeal, large glass of water with fresh lemon, a glass of apple juice, a piece of fruitSnack: Fresh juice (apple or carrot), water with lemon.

Lunch: 9-grain vegetable sandwich (bell peppers, celery, zuc- chini, etc) with balsamic vinaigrette, water with lemon, cranberry juice, more fruit

Snack: Fresh juice (grape or organic V8).

Dinner: Steamed vegetables or vegetable soup; water with lemon and grape juice, fruit salad (watermelon, apples, grapes, melons, etc.).Before you go to bed drink DETOX tea Also, exercise during this phase will sweat out toxins.

During the FastContinue for the first 4-5 days on the Detox tea and juices if you feel you need them. Put lemon in the water. The acid in the lemon flushes the toxins out of your body. This will minimize the blackouts and dizziness. Some people have hot water, lemon, and some honey each morning during the fast. It acts as a cleanser. One should not take vitamins while fasting; the body can’t properly digest them without food.

Drink PLENTY of water while fasting (3/4 to 1 gallon of water a day). Keep water with you and sip on it throughout the day. Metro Mint water can be refreshing. There are few disciplines more beneficial to your body than a fast. It gives your digestive system a rest; it purifies the blood and colon. You will feel charged, cleansed, and clear-headed.Another option is juice fasting. Buy a good juicer, and juice organic vegetables: carrots, beets, cabbage, etc. and organic fruit: apples, pineapple, grapes, etc. People who have done this for 30 and 40 days claim it to be rewarding to both the health and spirit.

Ending the FastEnd the fast with great caution. The length of the fast determines the length of time one should take to get back to a normal diet. If one was on water only, then take a couple days of mere juice consumption before moving forward. If one was on juices, then break it with vegetable soups and/broths, then move on to fruits and vegetables. Take your time. Treat your stomach like a baby’s. Do not eat anything that is hard to digest (i.e., pizza, meat, grains, dairy, etc.) Some recommend taking as much time coming off the fast as you were on the fast.

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Devotions

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Day 1

In Luke 11, Jesus’ disciples ask him to teach them to pray; “Lord, teach us to pray.”   It’s not that they didn’t know how to pray.  At this point in their lives, they knew how to pray.  They had heard many rabbi’s pray.   They had heard Jesus pray before.  They themselves had said a few prayers (I mean, they were fishermen!)   But what they were really asking was, “Jesus, teach us to pray like you.  With the boldness and the authority you pray with.”   It was like Jesus knew the Father, really, really well.  And He did.

Read Luke 11:1-13

• Take a few moments today, in prayer, and ask Jesus to make you hungry for prayer

• For this week, set aside (maybe set a reminder or alarm in your phone) just 3-5 minutes at some point during the day to simply pray and talk to God

Reflections:

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Day 2

Read Luke 11:1-4

Luke 11 gives us the very familiar Lord’s Prayer.  Most of us have heard this a time or two and if you’ve played sports, you’ve probably said it out loud with your team mates.  But what does it mean?

Components of a PrayerWhen we pray, we should pray with these components…

• Address God (Father, Jesus, Holy God, Mighty God, etc)

• Honor God (you are holy, you are mighty, gracious father, etc)

• Give thanks (Father thank you for_______)• Ask for the things NEEDED• Repent, confess and ask forgiveness of sin• Forgive others• Ask for God’s provision in your day• Ask God to direct your day• Thank Him and claim victory in your day for his honor

Now these are just a few things to pray for.  Do this in your own way and get into your own rhythm.  But don’t stick to that so that it becomes stale.  Talk to God as you would a friend, but remember, He is still a Holy God and a great King, so use reverence as well.

Reflections:

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Day 3

The bottom line of The Circle Maker is “Change your prayers & change your life”

• In what ways have you changed your prayers this week?• Are you praying any differently?

Read 1 Kings 17:36-40   (for full context, read verses 20-40)  Elijah vs the prophets of Baal.

• How did Elijah pray in that situation?• What can you learn from the boldness in which Elijah

prayed to God?• What miracle, dream, desire, prayer of petition have you

been asking God for?  Today, approach God boldly, not demanding, but with boldness and ask God to intercede in your situation like he did for Elijah

Reflections:

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Day 4

Read Joshua 6:1-7

Joshua had the people of Israel in a predicament.  He was in the shadow of one of the greatest cities the world had yet to see.  The walls of Jericho were said to be indestructible.   Yet, following the prompting of God, he had the people of Israel standing outside this great city and God tells him “See, I have given the city of Jericho into your hand, with it’s King and mighty men of valor.”  Huh?  The walls were still standing and Israel was still on the outside looking in.  How could God have already given them this city?

There are great things to be heard when we simply listen to the voice of God.  God may be trying to tell you something today but He’s not got your attention yet because you’ve done all the talking.  Joshua would had never went forward into battle against this great city had he not had the confidence that God was with him and that the battle was over before it started.

• Today take a few moments and in prayer, simply ask God to speak to you.  Be still and listen to his voice, then go do what He says

Reflections:

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Day 5

Read Joshua 1: 1-7

The great leader Moses has died and now the people of Israel are being led by a new leader, Joshua.   Just before they entered into the promise land (another promise God made good on!), God spoke to Joshua and tells him, “Every place that the sole of your feet will tread upon, I have already given you…”  Wow!   What a promise!   So Joshua moves forward with confidence that God was with him, and eventually secures the promise land and gives Israel a home.

• If you knew for 100% that God was with you, what would you do?  

• How would you pray differently?  • If God has given you a great dream, a mighty vision, a

call to move on something, and  if you’re a believer, then you need to know that God is FOR you and WITH you.  Today, go forward in faith and confidence that the one who created the Universe is in your corner.  

• Pray big. Pray bold.  Pray through.  

Reflections:

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Day 6

“If we don’t take the risk, we could forfeit the miracle.Praying big, bold prayers begins with knowing the strength of He alone who answers them. It’s in the quiet listening for our Commanders’ voice that will lead us into a position to be able to speak from our oneness with Him into the darkness of this world.

Moses was human, but carried with him the promise that God would do His miracles through him, a simple man with a past who found a life of contentment in the desert. This simple man was brought into a relationship with His God. As you read the words God says to Moses, pray and ask God not only to reveal the reasons you have for holding back, ask Him to speak to them.

“And the LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”(Numbers 11:23 ESV)

We know that Moses saw the hand of the Lord, not shortened but extended, more powerful than Pharaoh, and all the enemies of Israel. If we pray boldly we too will see our Jesus, our Deliverer, whose hand is much more powerful that Satan, sin and death, perform the many wonders He wishes to manifest in and through our simple lives.

Reflections:

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Day 7

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”(Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)

Faith is a mysterious, intangible thing that lives inside of every believer. Faith is not an emotion, rather the courage to follow the steps Christ has given to us in spite of our emotions. We learn to walk, first one foot and then the other. We learn to pray in the same way. Take the first step and then the other. There is beauty in simple faith, there is growth and hope. All we need He will provide as we take step 1.

Today pray and ask God to reveal your next step. This is not of man, or his workings, not of your own desire but that born of your relationship with Jesus, through His works. His works are sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9) for us all to step out in faith, not faith in self but faith in Him alone. He’s got this, and He’s got you! “… Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, …”(Joshua 1:5-6 ESV)

Reflections:

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Day 8

“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way”~ Henry David Thoreau

Elisha followed Elijah for many years, watched him perform miracles, heal people and prophesy. Elijah had called fire down from heaven and hid from Jezebel. Elisha wanted what Elijah had, and wanted to be as near to the action as he could get. In the beginning however, he had a choice to make, a single step to take to begin his journey as Elijah’s apprentice. He burned the ox, gave himself no other option than to follow his new master. What options are you leaving open that God is asking you to burn? Doors can be reopened. It’s time to take them off their hinges and burn them down.

Read 1 Kings 19:19-21 and ask yourself the following questions:

• What options do I need to burn?• Is following God my only option?• What’s preventing me from praying boldly for

direction?

Reflections:

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Day 9

Read Mark Chapter 6:30-43.

The wisdom of the disciples was to send the people to feed themselves. Jesus had another plan. What He told His disciples to do seemed strange to them. He asked them to give Him all they had, and when they did He performed a miracle.

There is something Jesus has for you to do as well. What if you hear His voice calling you to do something that has never been done before? If He is, what if, just what if He does through you something entirely new?

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”(John 2:5 ESV)

Mary knew that Jesus was the creator God with skin on, the God of all Creation in human form. If we believe that this same Jesus is the one guiding our steps, would we do whatever He told us to? Would you?

Reflections:

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Day 10

In faith believing, we speak things as if they already were.as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

(Romans 4:17 ESV)

The Holy Spirit is living and active in the life of every believer. He actively participates in our lives, He grows, and directs us toward the works Jesus has called us to perform in His name. When we enter relationship with Jesus, we enter into an eternal lineage of others who have walked this path before. Our Father God has given us stories of others who have gone before us to look to for assurance. God is who He says He is, and He does what He says that He will do, and always has.Draw circles around the promises of God…Maybe it’s time to draw your own circles, to begin to make the mental acknowledgement that He alone can and will participate in your life, and maybe, just maybe it’s time to take that first, bold step to participate with Him in His living work. Say yes to God and if you have said yes… it’s time to take that next step.

Read Hebrews Chapter 11.“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Reflections:

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Day 11

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." ~Oswald Chambers.

Prayer is a lifestyle that we begin to cultivate as we begin our relationship with Christ. We enter with our words, and speak our “Yes” to the invitation to live a life surrendered to Him. Prayer is the acknowledgement that He is above all, in all and through all. It’s the understanding that He alone is our first and only option, not a last resort.

Read Matthew 6:25-34Meditate on God’s truth. Meditation is focusing your thoughts on something. Use a thought or scripture that speaks to you from this passage. For example, this is a common one you may have heard before:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Reflections:

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Day 12

Jesus calls us friend. That is clear in scripture. (John 3:29) But a friend is only one thing that Jesus is. He is also called, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 21:6), the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5), the Lamb of God (John 1:36), The Son of Man (Matt. 9:6), King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14).

When we approach Jesus only as our best friend we limit our prayers. Not only is Jesus our friend, but He is also the Great I am! This truth gave the disciples the strength to change the world. He was their friend, but Peter also confessed this truth, as revealed to him by the Holy Spirit:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matt. 16:16)

Read Revelation 19:11-15: Our power in prayer rests in the acknowledgement of who He is — that He is King.

Today pray big bold prayers because The King of Kings has invited you to have an audience with Him. What will you ask Him for today?

Reflections:

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Day 13

Now that you have an audience with the King, what case will you present to Him? We each have a case to build. We do this every day with employers, spouses, parents and friends. Building a case with King Jesus is somewhat different because He knows what we will ask before we do. He alone knows the secrets of our hearts and where our desires originate. In addition to the desires that HE has placed in our hearts, we also have our own human desires. Our confidence in prayer isn’t about who we are, but about who He is. We can pray confidently when we pray according to His will.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”  (1 John 5:13-15 ESV)

“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.”- Martin Luther

Reflections:

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Day 14

Read Hebrews 4:14-16In the Old Testament, the High Priest was the one chosen to be the mediator between the people and God. He alone was given the privilege to have an audience with the Almighty God, and the Priest would make sacrifices for the people’s sin and present their pleas. Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice and it’s through His blood we are able to approach our Eternal God. Boldness of heart is born in the understanding that we are baptized, or immersed, into his death and we now are born again, raised up to walk in new life. We are no longer children of this world, but children of God. When God moves, things change. This doesn’t mean it will be easy.  On the contrary, it’ll be harder than we imagine, but His strength is perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Ask Jesus for the boldness to take a step forward. Ask Him to make you confident in the truth that His blood is enough to cover all of our sin, shame and regret.

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your task.”    -Phillip Brooks

Reflections:

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Day 15

You’ve probably heard that familiar scripture that says, “Faith without works is dead.”   (James 2:17)  And we have all nodded our heads in agreement and thought the same thoughts about the Church and how it should do something. But how often does that result in our own conviction to act, whether or not anyone else does? How often do we follow through and actually do something when we feel that God is leading us?

Today pray and read through this scripture again, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of what you are to do in light of all that Jesus has already done for you. Then ask Him for the boldness to take the first step.

Read Hebrews 2:14-26

“When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows. How can this not be the best thing for the world? For us?” - Ann Voskamp        

Reflections:

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Day 16

Romans 12:2 (NIV)Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Humble Service in the Body of Christ

I am praying that God will continually renew my mind.

Reflections:

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Day 17

1 John 1:7 (NIV)But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

I am praying that God guides me and that I follow to do what is right by living in His light and being purified.

Reflections:

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Day 18

1 John 1:7 (NIV)But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

I am praying that God guides me and that I follow to do what is right by living in His light and being purified.

Reflections:

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Day 19

Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice. —Psalm 55:17

God is always ready to hear our prayer. There are no rims or borders that can block the ears of God. Even time—that earthly reality through which we order and live our lives—has no jurisdiction over heaven. We know those rims and borders all too well in human life. We ‘do’ our lives by following the hands or digits on the clock.

Reflections:

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Day 20

All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer. —Acts 1:14a

While prayer is often thought to be an individual activity born of private and internal difficulty, need, or sorrow, we don’t ever really come before God alone. Much of our prayer will be in the silence of our own heart, but even there, the whole human family is present. What flows from our heart when we are in need may be our own private words, yet these words are part of the endless flow of words that are, or have been, cast toward heaven throughout time.

Reflections:

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Day 21

nd when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come he was there alone. —Matthew 14:23

It can simply be too much. Life, that is. Work, people, the media, the noise, the demands, the stress can squeeze out the energy and enthusiasm that should characterize the wonder all around us. We feel life has become like an old, lumpy, overstuffed chair that has long since lost its ability to provide comfort. We search about for an escape, a change, a way to turn the craziness into some semblance of order and peace.

Reflections:

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Notes

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Notes

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